First Meeting of the South Asia Expert Group on Illegal Wildlife Trade Kathmandu, Nepal (May 17 - 19, 2010)

Animal Species in IUCN Red List ( Source: IUCN Red List Version 2010.1)
CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR
9 22 45 0 46 23 983 1128
Mammals Birds Reptiles Amphibians Fishes Other Total
32 32 7 3 1 1 76
Fauna Under CITES List:
Group Appendix I Appendix II Appendix III Total
Butterfly 3 3
Amphibians 1 1
Reptiles 8 10 18
Birds 16 94 1 111
Mammals 28 16 3 47
Total 52 124 4 180
  • Twenty PAs of Nepal covering 23.10% of total land area

CITES and Nepal:
Nepal joined CITES on 18 June 2025 (entered into force on 16 September 2025)

Authority in Nepal Fauna Flora
Management Authority Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Babarmahal, Kathmandu Department of Forests, Babarmahal, Kathmandu
Scientific Authority Natural History Museum Swayambhu, Kathmandu Department of Plant Resources, Thapathali, Kathmandu

Major wildlife species and their parts in trade

  • Rhino - Horn and hooves
  • Tiger - Skin and bone
  • Leopard - Skin and bone
  • Musk deer - Musk pod
  • Bear - Bile
  • Otter - Skin
  • Turtle - Live
  • Birds - Live


Figure: Rhino poaching in Nepal

Major Seizures and Arrest (2004 – 2009)

Confiscated wildlife Items by Nepal Police:
Animal 2007 2008 2009/2010

Leopard's skin

Tiger's skin

Tiger's Bones

Temple Bone (Tiger)

Rhino horn

Musk Pod

Otter

Deer skin

Wild Animal horns & other parts

Animal skin items

Python skin

Bluesheep skin

Kutki (Dactylorhiza)

Animal bone

Parrot

Deer horn

3 pcs

7 pcs.

57 pcs.

11 Pcs

1 Pcs

3 Pcs

2 Pcs

-

25

33

1

-

-

84 gm

-

96 pcs.

4 pcs.

9 pcs.

8 pcs.

-

1 pcs.

3 pcs.

-

2 pcs.

8 pcs.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

5 pcs.

-

-

-

2 pcs.

-

-

-

-

-

1 pcs.

650 pcs.

-

360 pcs.

-

Agencies Involved in Anti Poaching

  • Department of National Parks & Wildlife Conservation, Department of Forests
  • National Parks and Wildlife Reserves, District Forest Offices, Nepal Army
  • Nepal Police, Armed Police Force , Customs Offices, Revenue Investigation Department, Foreign Post Office, National Investigation Bureau, Nepal Army
  • Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, National Parks and Wildlife Reserves
  • District Forest Offices

Supporting Agencies for Controlling Illegal Activities

  • Department of Plant Resources, Natural History Museum
  • National Forensic Laboratory, Nepal Academy of Science and Technology
  • World Wildlife Fund, Nepal, National Trust for Nature Conservation
  • Wildlife Conservation Nepal, Other conservation related NGO's and INGO‟s
  • Civil Society Organizations

Major Acts

  • National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1972
  • Forest Act 1993
  • Export Import (Control) Act 1961
  • Customs Act 2007
  • Environmental Protection Act 1997

NPWC Act 1972 Provisions

  • Hunting is banned (other than Hunting Reserve),
  • Trade in Wildlife and its parts and derivatives is illegal,
  • Any person committing an offence shall be punishable with a fine of up to NRs. 100 thousands, or imprisonment up to 15 years or both
  • Chief Warden/Warden have the power to hear the case

Protected Animals in NPWC Act 1972

  • Protected Animals:
    • Twenty seven Mammal Species, Nine Bird Species and Three Reptile Species

Law Enforcement 2002 to date

  • In Chitwan alone more than 400 poachers, mediators and traders of rhino horns, tiger skin and bones were arrested and punished according to the NPWC act 1972.

PA Management Plan

  • Bardia NP - 2007-2011
  • Chitwan NP - 2007-2011
  • Kanchenjunga CA - 2006-2011
  • Koshi Tappu WR - 2010-2014
  • Makalu Barun NPBZ - 2005-2010
  • Rara NP - 2009-2013
  • Sagarmatha NP - 2007-2012
  • Shey Phoksundo NP - 2006-2011
  • Suklaphanta WR - 2007-2012
  • Annapurna CA - 2009-2012
  • Makalu Barun NP - 2004-2009

Species Conservation Action Plans

  • Rhino: 2006-2010
  • Tiger: 2008-2012
  • Snow Leopard: 2004-2014
  • Vulture: 2010-2014
  • Elephant: 2010-2019

Initiatives

  • GoN has recently consented to CITES Bill
  • CITES Units in DNPWC and DoF
  • CITES coordination meetings, trainings, workshops
  • Informer‟s network in strategic areas in place
  • Sensitize political parties and leaders
  • Conservation education and public awareness
  • Wildlife Research and periodic monitoring
  • Intensive block monitoring (ID based monitoring)
  • Regular and intensive patrolling (MIST)
  • Support from Partner Organizations

Regional and Global Cooperation

  • Transboundary meetings at National and local level
  • Organizing Global and Regional Workshops/Meetings
  • Building partnership/collaboration (Such as Rhino Expert Group Meeting)

National Tiger Conservation Committee (Proposed):

  • To be chaired by Rt. Hon. Prime Minister of Nepal and comprises Hon. Ministers and Secretaries of Home and Forests Ministry, COAS, IG of Nepal Police and Armed Police and DG/DNPWC
  • Responsible for high level coordination, policy guidance, facilitate and support for Tiger conservation

Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (Proposed)

  • Establish crime control intelligence network, Wildlife trade monitoring
  • Exercise legal powers, Coordination among agencies
  • Assist concerned authorities for law enforcement

Updates and Amendments

  • Amendment of National Red List of Mammals
  • Amendment of NPWC Act 1972
  • Amendment of protected species list

Way Forward:

  • Monitoring of wildlife trade in cities/customs,
  • Capacity enhancements of enforcement agencies
  • Strengthening anti-poaching operations
  • Cooperation and support among law enforcement agencies within and between country
  • Community stewardship

Related

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